Here is an anonymously told story I recently found: A little boy was having difficulty lifting a heavy stone. His father came along just then. Noting the boy’s failure, he asked, ‘Are you using all your strength?’ ‘Yes, I am,’ the little boy said impatiently. ‘No, you are not,’ the father answered. ‘I am right here just waiting, and you haven’t asked me to help you.’
Even before Covid arrived, we lived in a culture where loneliness and isolation caused more unnecessary suffering and problems than self-reliance could ever solve. We aren’t animals, born and immediately abandoned to fend for ourselves. Whether we recognize it or not, our needs are met not by our efforts alone, but by the vast network surrounding us. Community has never been more important.
We are each other’s strength. We are in this life together. Be kind, be supportive, and have a great weekend.
If you are in a position to help others, make it as apparent as you can and seek ways to give. If you have been working up the courage to ask for help, I hope you find a way to to do so. If you have recently taken the step, I am so very proud of you.
We are each other’s strength. We are in this life together. Be kind, be supportive, and have a great weekend.
Friday
The 410 Project in Mankato is kicking off their annual Juried Exhibition with an online reception and awards presented LIVE on their Facebook page starting at 7:00pm. The open entry exhibit will run through March 7.
The St. Joseph the Work Men’s Club will have their Fish Bake Drive Through from 5-7pm. For just $10 the meal will include fish, tater tots, coleslaw, bread, and cake.
From 6-8pm the North Mankato Taylor Library will have a Virtual Murder Mystery Party for ages 11-17. You’ll play a celebrity persona during this virtual mystery. Registration is available online or by calling or stopping by the library.
Chankaska Creek Ranch and Winery is hosting a Pound & Pour. Bring a mat to work out on and get ready to sweat. The class, designed for all fitness levels, will be a cardio jam session with music, energy, and, of course, a glass of wine. Register online.
Theatre! You can catch Gustavus Theatre’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with performances through Feb. 21. The play flips the script of Hamlet, following two previously minor characters from Shakespeare’s play. The play will be streaming online beginning at 8:00pm on Friday. The MSU Department of Theatre & Dance will be performing Sense and Sensibility through the end of February, with their Friday show beginning at 7:30pm.
Saturday
Fit and Grit Training is launching their Polar Bear workout series. For 4 Saturdays in a row, beginning Feb. 20, Fit and Grit Training will host their 30-minute, high energy workouts for anyone brave enough to face the winter chill. Participants can register for all four Saturdays, or select one-day passes. Registration is also available day of.
Young artists can join The Grand Center for Arts & Culture of New Ulm painting class. Ages kindergarten and up will be taught a step-by-step painting technique and bring home their own artwork. The class runs from 10:00am to noon and registration is available online.
There are also games of all kinds, including high school wrestling, college softball, basketball, and hockey, and board games at Pulp Comics and Games, the Dork Den, and Atlantis Hobby. Check out MankatoLIFE.com for details.
Sunday
There’s still time to check out Reed White and Dana Sikkila’s work displayed at the Arts Center of Saint Peter, available through Feb. 27.
The Dork Den of Mankato will have two groups playing Dungeons and Dragons beginning at 11:00am this Sunday, with registration available online for only $10. Atlantis Hobby will have $6 entry Yu-Gi-Oh from 1:00-5:00pm with prizes and giveaways.
Bonus: Food Assistance
Times are tough and our community provides several different resources to provide assistance. On Saturday from 11:00am to 1:00pm the Nicollet County Covid Food Assistance Program will be at the Fairgrounds in St. Peter distributing produce, dairy products, meat, seafood, eggs and walnuts to all households in need.
New Creation World Outreach Church will have Fare For All on Monday from 3:30-5:30pm. These drive through sales aim to provide low-cost, nutritious foods to all. Options include a Mega Meat pack ($25), Mini Meat pack ($11), Produce packs ($10) and Combo Packs ($20). There are no income or residential restrictions and no pre-registration is required. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
More resources for area food assistance are available online and through MN.gov.
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Weekend High Notes is a regular feature by Molly Butler. Molly covers weekend events, live music, and culture in the Greater Mankato Area. Suggestions are welcome using the MankatoLIFE contact form.
